Tag: American English

Although the UK and the US share a common language, there are some rather significant differences in terms of spelling, pronunciation, and vocabulary. In our previous blog posts, we have already covered the differences in spelling and pronunciation between those two countries. This week, we turn our attention to some food, travel, and fashion related terminology you have […]

If you’ve watched non-Americans get confused while trying our recent ‘American phrases to confuse Brits‘ quiz, now it’s time to turn the tables. Even Anglophiles might struggle with some of the more unusual or idiomatic expressions Brits use in everyday life – particularly those with obscure origins. Pleased with your score? Disappointed? Why not have […]

Thanks to the worldwide interest in American culture, English speakers around the world are familiar with odd American English expressions like bury the hatchet, pass the buck, and take a rain check. But no matter how many Hollywood movies you watch, there are still probably American idioms that will catch you by surprise. Take a stab at our quiz […]

Although Canadian English is often lumped together with American English, Canadian English stands apart as its own distinct variety of English. One of the ways that it stands apart is its vocabulary, which includes several borrowings from Quebecois French. Take the quiz below to see how well you know your Canadian English!

The words app and nap might rhyme, but to say they sound exactly the same is quite clearly wrong. Well, it is quite clearly wrong until you precede them with the indefinite article. There is nothing (apart from context) to distinguish an app from a nap in spoken English, unless you rather take your time […]

We recently tested non-Brits on their knowledge of British English; now it’s time to turn the tables and see how well English-speakers outside of North America can handle the mysteries of American English. Have a go, and let us know how you do. Good luck!

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the 1994 film The Shawshank Redemption, the prison drama following the lives of prisoners Andy Dufresne (Tim Robbins) and Ellis “Red” Redding (Morgan Freeman). Overshadowed by Forrest Gump and Pulp Fiction in the year of its release, the film has demonstrated an incredible staying power over the past […]